Bowen Island

Bowen Island (pop. 3,362) is just a 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver.

The quiet, forested island of 52sq km/20sq mi lives up to its slogan of "Within Reach. Beyond Comparison." Water lovers enjoy kayaking around Bowen Island's sheltered bays, swimming at sandy beaches, and mooring their boats at local marinas. And from mighty Mount Gardner to the shores of Killarney Lake, hiking and mountain biking offer both hilly challenges and pure relaxation.

Just 25km/15.5mi northwest of Vancouver, Bowen Island is also easily accessible by water taxi from downtown's Granville Island. Shopping and dining await a short stroll from the ferry in Snug Cove. Dilly-dally happily with artwork, jewelry, fair-trade goods, and Mediterranean and West Coast food in Village Square, Artisan Square, and the Marina on the Pier.

The People of Bowen Island

Bowen Island residents offer an intriguing study in contrasts. Affluent home-owners abound, but in their commitment to laidback rural living, they generally favour people over profits and art over avarice. Certainly, the locals cherish their privacy, but they're also spontaneous enough to pull over and pick up hitchhikers routinely.

Arts & Culture

Bowen Island burgeons with artists and art galleries as Canada's fourth-most artistic community per capita. Acclaimed writers, from Michael Ondaatje to Nick Bantock, have resided here. Whether it's rockers like Barney Bentall or classical ensembles like the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, live music is big with Bowen Island people.

Festivals & Events

At festivals and events all year long, Bowen Island celebrates its culture and history. Check out the Round Bowen kayaking and sailboat races (June), the Write On! Bowen writers festival (July 1), the Bowfest (August) with a parade, animals and carnival, AppleFest in historic Davies Orchard (October), and the Light-Up Bowen lantern parade (December).

History of Bowen Island

Originally used as summering grounds by the native Squamish Nation, Bowen Island was named after a British naval hero in 1860. European settlers began logging, farming, and fishing. By the end of the 19th century, cottages were springing up on Bowen Island, and it emerged as a popular holiday getaway for Vancouverites and other visitors.

Until the 1950s, the Union Steamship Company transported visitors to Bowen Island for dancing on moonlight cruises, horseback riding, lawn bowling, and general revelry. Regular car-ferry service, initiated in 1958, ushered out the resort era, and turned Bowen Island into a bedroom community of Vancouver. Peaceful farms and historic B&Bs embody the vibe that awaits visitors today. Bowen Island was incorporated as a municipality in 1999.

Bowen Island Goes Hollywood

Lots of movies and TV episodes have been shot on Bowen Island over the years. Some notable films include 1986's The Clan of the Cave Bear (Darryl Hannah), 1990's The Russia House (Sean Connery, Michelle Pfeiffer), 1999's Double Jeopardy (Tommy Lee Jones, Ashley Judd), and 2006's The Wicker Man (Nicholas Cage, Ellen Burstyn). The 13-episode TV horror series Harper's Island, which aired on CBS and Global in 2009, was also a Bowen Island production.

For more information about activities, directions, and availability on Bowen Island, stop in at the seasonal Visitor Centre (432 Cardena Rd) near the ferry terminal in Snug Cove.